It’s no secret that Crown Northampton are masters of their craft after 117 years in the game, but their latest limited edition drop takes things to another level. Working closely with Chicago’s Horween leather tannery, founded only 3 years before them, they’ve released a pack of Western floral-embossed leather goods in both Chromexcel and Shell Cordovan leathers. These tick a lot of boxes and then some.
For those not in the know, Horween’s Chromexcel and Shell Cordovan are two very special leathers. Chromexcel takes Horween’s several months and countless procedures and techniques to get just right. Put very simply, it combines two of the best tanning methods — chrome tanning and vegetable tanning — to create a leather that is as durable and flexible as it is texturally rich and beautiful. Perfect for a leather sneaker like Crown’s.
Shell Cordovan is another rare leather, with only a small amount produced each year. The availability of the raw hides is in decline, and if you combine this with the fact that the tanning process alone takes six months, you can start to understand why Shell Cordovan is so prized (and costly). Crown Northampton also chose a Bourbon colour for this Shell Cordovan, which, in true Crown style, is one of the most complex colours to tan.
Crown has made both these incredible leathers even better by having them embossed with a Western floral pattern, which was introduced by Horween back in the 1970s. Special leathers carrying an even more special pattern that’s almost impossible to come by in 2025. We told you they tick a lot of boxes.
Each pair of shoes is handmade to order, using unrivalled construction that makes each pair completely re-craftable. Crown has enough of this stuff to produce just 20 pairs of the Shell Cordovan version of their Harlestone Derby, and a black and forest green Chromexcel version of their Overstone Derby sneakers. And, for those who like to match the belt (and wallet) with their shoes, there’s a Shell Cordovan belt to match the Harlestones and an ‘available upon request’ belt and off-cut cardholder — in either colour — to match the Overstones.
For those who can get into a pair of these, we imagine it will be daunting to wear such a work of art on your feet. That said, these deserve to be worn, loved, and soaked in patina.
Head over to Crown Northampton to check the full collection, with prices starting at $420 for footwear and $350 for the belt.
Like this? Read these:
